Jury acquits DeKalb men of murder

Males claimed they were acting in self-defense.

Two Stone Mountain-area men were found not guilty of murder in a soured DeKalb County drug deal.

The jury responded to defense attorneys’ assertions the defendants had actually been acting in self-defense when one of them shot and killed 46-year-old Antim- othy Davis on Horse Shoe Drive in South DeKalb on Nov. 18, 2017. Patrick Croskey and Kryshlar Maxwell, both 27, were acquitted of all charges Oct. 29, except for a possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count for Maxwell.

Croskey’s attorney Maurice Kenner told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Davis was the aggressor and shot Croskey in the leg while attempting to rob him. The state had argued it was Davis who was firing in self defense.

District Attorney Sherry Boston said her office is “dis- appointed with the outcome” but respects the jury’s decision.

The defendants left the scene and were arrested after their car crashed nearby. Police said they were flee- ing; the defendants said they were trying to get to the hospital because Croskey had been shot in the leg.

“It was a very scary expe- rience,” Croskey said after being released from a year in jail. “It opened up my eyes to know that one min- ute you can be doing some- thing and everything can be changed.”

Maxwell remains in custody and will be sentenced on the firearm charge Nov. 27.